Weddings

Wedding venues

St. Mary’s in Overton Drive; Wanstead’s historic parish church is Redbridge’s only Grade One listed building, and still retains its original character of 1790. With its gallery it can seat 500, but it is as comfortable and pleasant with 30. Its fine organ speaks clearly into the acoustics of this elegant Georgian church. A small carillon of four bells can be rung before and after the service.

Wedding at St. Mary’s

Christ Church in Wanstead Place is an impressive Victorian Gothic Church designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Its high spire dominates the green on which it sits. It is surrounded by its own well-tended garden. Again although a large building, a smaller congregation will not feel lost in the church. The church has an historic William Hill organ and a full peal of bells, which can be rung before and after the service.

Wedding at Christ Church

Wedding FAQ

The cost including the legal fees, the organist, flowers and permission to video the service will be around £900 in 2017. It can be less if you want a service without music. There is an additional cost for the carillon at St. Mary’s and bells at Christ Church.

The parish has an agreed policy for those seeking marriage who have been previously married and whose former partner is still living. Provided the new relationship was not the direct cause of the breakdown of the former marriage, and children from the marriage are being properly cared for and there is no open scandal associated with the breakdown of the marriage, we are in principle willing to marry you in church. One of the clergy will need to speak with you in some more detail and we will need to see your decree absolute. Marriage is not usually solemnised in church after more than one divorce

Banns are an announcement in church of your intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the marriage may not lawfully take place. Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the parish church in which you are to be married, if that is somewhere else. You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. This is often done over three consecutive Sundays but does not have to be.

Yes… if you have a “qualifying connection” which could be that your parents or grandparents were married in the parish, you lived in the parish at sometime or you have worshipped here for at least six months. The clergy will be happy to advise you on this.